A Sailing Re-Start in the Philippines
by Jerry Rollin 21 Mar 2022 19:28 AEDT
17-22 February 2022
BPI Busuanga Cup 2022. IRC fleet leaders © Jerry Rollin.
The BPI Busuanga Cup involves a 135 nm race from Nasugbu (Batangas) to Busuanga (Palawan), and a day of inshore island races around the islands of Busuanga.
There has been no racing in the Philippines since Covid started to take effect. Consequently, this year’s event was extremely popular! With a total of 20 boats gathering for on the water action and socialising, organisers PHINSAF (the Philippine Inter Island Sailing Foundation) were pleased to welcome the largest number of boats in the event’s six year history… and then, for the second time, there was the added attraction of a Rally after the racing, this time cruising around the Linapacan Group of islands which lie between Cullion Island (last year’s Rally area) and the main Palawan Islands. The Welcome Party was held at and sponsored by Club Punta Fuego in their T&C Bar.
Starting at Punta Fuego Yacht Club, as usual, and ending on the east coast of Busuanga Island, the event attracted boats from IRC Racing, Cruiser Racer and Ocean Multihull Classes. As previously, race boats were permitted to pick the time to start that they calculated would be most advantageous for them, with the aim of joining the beach lunch party on South Cay Island the following day. Results would be calculated on each boat’s elapsed time. This year the start for all boats was 08.00h on Thursday 17 February and the finish was at Black Island, North East Busuanga, with the aim of avoiding the wind shadow from Busuanga Island.
The fleet got away downwind in 8kts of breeze, and it was soon clear that the navigators had different ideas concerning the best way to go. The fleet split almost equally going either side of Twin Island just 2nm from the start. The next split was to either go through Golo Pass (almost a direct route) or further west through Cabra Island Passage in order to stay offshore and have a better passage through the wind shadow from Mindoro Island - Hurricane Hunter and Belatrix chose this route.
As usual the conditions were boisterous as the boats pasted through the Calavite Passage with a reported maximum wind of 33 knots and accompanying seas. Atrevidos, the little Farrier 20 of Eddie Legarda, enjoyed a particularly exciting ride, reached 17kts before blowing their spinnaker.
As the breeze was forecast to soften later, a gate was established 20nm before the finish for the IRC class at 12°40min N, and 30nm out for the Cruisers and Ocean Multihulls at 12°40 min N. The forecasts were correct, so the gates became the finish for all classes and boats were required to take a photograph, set a waypoint, or by any other means show evidence of the exact time they crossed the Northing. This is the first time we have tried this system and it worked very well.
As usual Peter Baird’s Lost in Asia assumed the duties of Start/Finish boat, and Comms & Safety, as well as providing Race Officer Jerry Rollin with a stable platform, five star accommodation, an office to work in, and unlimited access to a first class wine cellar.
The winners of the Punta Fuego to Busuanga Race IRC Class winner for the fourth time was Jun Avecilla’s Selma Star, a Beneteau First 37.6.
That afternoon and evening boats began to arrive in Busuanga Bay, find their allocated mooring courtesy of Marina del Sol, and going ashore to be welcomed by Rap Garcia, GM of Marina del Sol and Regatta Secretary for PHINSAF, and Rica the Resort Manager, and were directed to the welcome party sponsored by Marina del Sol.
It has become a tradition with PHINSAF since starting the practice during the Philippine Hobie Challenge 20 years ago to provide assistance to the local community as the fleet passes through. This year a presentation was made to the local school and to the local church construction in Barangay Salvacion, Busuanga.
The community was very grateful and thanked the generosity of donors - Peter Baird from Broadwater and Jun Avecilla from Subic Sailing (printers and ink), and cash donations from James and Victor Villareal, Matt Morrison, Bobby Benares, Renie Ticson and the crews of 22 Tango and Carino.
The next day was the Doni Altura Cup inshore island races. Doni was a leading light and formerly active sailor in Dragons and keelboats, and Commodore of the Manila Yacht Club. The Cup is sponsored in his memory by his son Albert who is continuing the family sailing tradition. The main challenge for the Race Committee the next day was to find areas where there were no pearl farms blocking the seaways! This is an annual challenge as the pearl farms move, expand and contract frequently.
Eventually, a ‘farm free’ course area was discovered. IRC Racing completed a windward leeward course with Albert Altura’s Beneteau First 40 making a perfect pin end start on port to get in front of the rather hesitant fleet. Cruising and OMH got away on an island course in 8-12 knots, followed by Racing (again) on the same course.
Alas, the wind strength did not hold, and a number of boats were unable to finish within the time limit – but of course this only encouraged them to party harder at the Awards Party at Marina del Sol!
Trophies and prizes awarded:
The Punta Fuego to Busuanga Race,
IRC Class Selma Star Jun Avecilla First 36.7
Cruising Class Lady May Francis Perez Tayana 55
Ocean Multihull Class Poco Loco David Sutton Leopard 45
Doni Altura Cup
IRC Class Selma Star Jun Avecilla First 36.7
Cruising Class Wild Honey James & Victor Villareal Oceanis 41.4
Ocean Multihull Class Poco Loco David Sutton Leopard 45
Overall for the Busuanga Cup
IRC Class Belatrix Jun Villanueva Ice 52
Cruising Class Isabelle Tere Marcial Jeanneau 389
Ocean Multihull Class Poco Loco David Sutton Leopard 45
Additional prizes were provided by Punta Fuego Yacht Club and Marina del Sol Resort. The awards party under the firm control of Master of Ceremonies, John John Torres, was held in Marina del Sol, with an open bar sponsored by Asia Yachting, and a reggae band and firework by Rayomarine.
The special guest was Mayor of Busuanga, Elizabeth Cervantes, who has presented the prizes in previous years and - since the start of the event - made the regatta very welcome. In the last two years she had smoothed the passage of the fleet through the convoluted Covid restrictions. The prizegiving party was also joined by SB Counsellor Ann Mercado, Head of Local Government Tourism Onie Davatos, and ABC President Benjamin Alarcon Jr.
Following the hugely successful event, Jerry Rollin thanked the guests and everyone who had contributed to the organisation and sponsorships, and expressed a hope that by next year we will be free from Covid and once again be able to extend a welcome to international participants.